Compare 251 Sports Studies. programs in the South. Average earnings: $41,054.
Sports Studies programs produce graduates earning between $54,694 and $70,754—a $16K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 251 ranked programs in the South, outcomes vary based on program quality, not institutional reputation.
Southern Methodist University's Sports Studies program leads with graduates earning $70,754, well above the $41,054 average across all programs. University of Delaware follows at $69,499, while Wake Forest delivers $68,083—proving that program-level factors drive outcomes more than overall school rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Rice University graduates borrow just $11,000 and face a 3.8% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families considering parent loans, Marshall University leads with a 16.1% family burden, keeping total debt manageable.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $70,754 | 86 | $19,500 | Excellent | $40,025 | Challenging | |
| #2 | University Of DelawarePublic | $69,499 | 201 | $24,572 | Excellent | $43,000 | Challenging |
| #3 | Wake Forest UniversityPrivate | $68,083 | 70 | $21,500 | Excellent | $30,000 | Manageable |
| #4 | Milligan UniversityPrivate | $65,830 | 28 | $25,219 | Excellent | $36,972 | Challenging |
| #5 | Rice UniversityPrivate | $62,105 | 102 | $11,000 | Excellent | $35,338 | Manageable |
| #6 | $62,053 | 37 | $21,096 | Excellent | $33,899 | Challenging | |
| #7 | $61,801 | 89 | $20,121 | Excellent | $23,000 | Manageable | |
| #8 | $59,336 | 21 | $23,250 | Good | $18,989 | Manageable | |
| #9 | $58,417 | 453 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Challenging | |
| #10 | $58,292 | 238 | $19,000 | Excellent | $35,200 | Challenging | |
| #11 | William & MaryPublic | $58,114 | 129 | $18,500 | Excellent | $30,326 | Challenging |
| #12 | Roanoke CollegePrivate | $58,080 | 47 | $27,000 | Good | $40,178 | High |
| #13 | University Of MiamiPrivate | $57,369 | 48 | $17,500 | Excellent | $37,267 | Challenging |
| #14 | $57,339 | 247 | $20,500 | Good | $26,632 | Challenging | |
| #15 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $56,742 | 252 | $20,093 | Good | $37,285 | High |
| #16 | Marshall UniversityPublic | $55,966 | 63 | $23,250 | Good | $13,944 | Manageable |
| #17 | Elon UniversityPrivate | $55,945 | 70 | $20,500 | Good | $46,609 | High |
| #18 | $55,909 | 241 | $21,500 | Good | $31,393 | Challenging | |
| #19 | Abilene Christian UniversityPrivate | $55,898 | 72 | $24,250 | Good | $26,542 | Challenging |
| #20 | $54,694 | 141 | $20,654 | Good | $31,890 | Challenging | |
| #21 | $54,654 | 136 | $20,500 | Good | $25,645 | Challenging | |
| #22 | University Of GeorgiaPublic | $54,482 | 270 | $18,500 | Excellent | $20,855 | Challenging |
| #23 | Harding UniversityPrivate | $53,747 | 40 | $26,500 | Good | $27,785 | High |
| #24 | Texas Woman's UniversityPublic | $53,255 | 126 | $19,218 | Good | $13,471 | Manageable |
| #25 | Lagrange CollegePrivate | $53,191 | 15 | $25,730 | Good | $18,710 | Challenging |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
